Escape From The Asylum is an art show inspired by the Batman comics and features work by artists Jamond Bullock, John Bullock, Patrick  Tabor, Joseph Boyd, and Tony Brown.

Show runs from May 15-29, 2010 at Marshall Arts Gallery- 639 Marshall Ave. in Memphis, TN (just down the street from Sun Studios). Show is open to the public Mon-Fri 10am-7pm. For more info click here.

See ya at the opening reception- Saturday, May 15 from 6-10pm.

I personally think that comics are a collaborative creation- writers, pencilers, inkers, colorists, letterers, and editors are all a team.

If one creator gets more money, everyone should.  Royalties, bonuses, comp copies, whatever. Unless it’s a solo book, no one person is the book. Some creators’ names sell more books than others, and if they get a bigger piece of the pie that’s probably fair. But their comics wouldn’t get done without the rest of the creative team. Share the wealth.

On newsarama.com Image Comics’ Erik Larson was quoted as saying, “I don’t know of a colorist that moves the needle–so I don’t think they should get royalties–same with letterers. Sorry.”

Dave McCaig replied, “Print your books in black and white. Put your money where your mouth is if you think colorists are not essential to the team.”

I tend to agree, and other than Owly I don’t know many comics that can do without lettering, too. And every comic should have a good editor.

I’ve seen inkers save pencilers on a book.  I’ve seen colorists save inkers. I’ve picked up books because I really dug the colors or inks. I’ve also seen both butcher a book, too-and I’ve dropped a book because of bad inks/colors. Bad balloon placement and fonts can take a reader out of a story. And without a letterer and the credits how would we know who did what on a comic!

I’m not crazy that there’s a food chain in comics- and that colorists and letterers tend to be considered at the bottom of it.

Shame when they’ve had to pull a late writer or penciler’s fat out of the deadline fire.

Lin

The SIVADS of March!

March 25-28

A four-day tribute through art, film, music and words to the late Watson Davis, the innovative Malco ad man and ballyhoo specialist known for his elaborate movie promotions and who, in his guise as the ‘horror host’ known as Sivad (on the “Fantastic Features” program from 1962 to 1972 on WHBQ-TV Channel 13), was one of the most influential and beloved Memphis pop-culture heroes of the era, with a popularity that crossed generational and racial lines. He also scared the willies outta me as a kid here in Memphis in the late 60″s!

The new Art Of Bushi Tales book is now available!

Written and Illustrated by Dave Beaty, Lin Workman, Micah Stewart

Standard Sized Trade Paperback
Full Color
Page Count: 100
POD

$19.95 (+s/h)

Dave Beaty, Lin Workman, and Micah Stewart take you behind the scenes in the Art of Bushi Tales. See the scripted page come alive from pencil sketches to painted art. Includes a special guest artist gallery featuring art by Bret Blevins, Scott Clark, Greg Cravens, Andrew Charipar, Harold Jennett, Martheus Antone Wade, and more! A must have for art lovers and Bushi Tales fans.

It’s is the 31st century of man and the ancient world has returned. Four female Samurai are sent on a quest by Hachiman, the god of war, in this post-apocalyptic series created by Dave Beaty (X-men: Sword of the Braddocks, Adventure Comics, Brightest Day) and Lin Workman (Stargodz, Scared Silly, CGS: The End).

The book is available from Indy Planet. If you’d like to have one personalized or pick up a copy in person Dave, Micah and I will all be at the Phoenix Comicon (Cactuscon) this May, so if you’re in the area stop by the Bushi Tales booth and say hi.

I should have news on the Bushi Tales trade paperback coming soon- stay “tooned”!

Lin

I’ll be on Channel 3′s Live at 9 morning show this Monday morning talking about the upcoming MidSouthCon (March 12-14 in Olive Branch, MS).

I’ve been on before with Alex and Marybeth pimping my comic Bushi Tales. This time I’ll be pimping the art and comics programming MSC will have to offer sci-fi fans next month at the con.

This year’s con will have Kevin J. Anderson, Gail Simone, Billy Tackett, John Jackson Miller, and many more!

I’ll have at least one of my paintings there, and should be doing some sketching live.

You can see one of my paintings in an interview about the con on Fox13 here. (Thanks, Carlin!)

Lin

…well, except for a couple geeks.

Welcome to the crazy world of Geek Syndicate. Geek Syndicate chronicles the adventures of Dave and Barry, two British geeks who love themselves some comics, sci-fi, and anything else geekworthy! Geek Syndicate is based on the podcast of the same name, and features art by Harold Jennett.

Their Christmas special is underway so grab a cup of cheer and head on over!
Comic link: www.geeksyndicatecomic.com
Podcast link: http://www.geeksyndicate.co.uk/
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Looking for something fun to do on Friday night? There will be an art show on Friday, December 11, 2009, at the studio of Adam Shaw featuring some of his art in a show titled “The Heidi Series.” There will also be other artists on display, so be sure you show up! The show is at 2547 Broad Avenue, Memphis, TN 38112.

www.abshaw.com

But, the “Adam” fun times don’t end there! On Saturday, December 12, you can meet and greet with Adam Shaw, the artist of the new graphic novel, HARPE (about the first serial killers in the U.S.), at Comics and Collectibles from 2 – 4 p.m. Comics and Collectibles is located at 4730 Poplar Ave. #2 Memphis TN 38117.

http://www.memphiscomics.com/

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But, wait! Your Saturday fun isn’t over just yet–you can also see Kevin Williams performing as Riverthing, the favorite mascot of the Mississippi Riverkings at the Desoto Civic Center. The game begins at 6:30 p.m. on December 12. If you’ve never been to a Riverkings game before, you should. Skate on down to the DCC and watch an awesome game, and if you show up and find Riverthing that night and mention you’re with the MSCA, you’ll get a special photo opportunity!!

http://www.muleythemule.com/

http://www.riverkings.com/

Watch the MSCA site for frequent updates, like this week’s very fun text version of “Mule on the Street” when Muley the Mule interviewed none other than our own Sam Ray!  Ever wanted to know more about an original member of the MSCA?  Sam Ray is one of the guys to talk to.  If you missed his talk at the December dinner meeting, this is your chance to get caught up.
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More PKD!

The second part of the interview Wonton and I did with Shawn Pryor and Jon Carroll for The Black Box podcast is now available. We talk more about digital comics, distribution, web comics, Jetta, Bushi Tales, my B/W art show and Comic Whore site.

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KOTOR Kitties

Our recently adopted kitties Zayne and Jarael were recently mentioned on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic author John Jackson Miller’s webiste “Faraway Press”. JJM is a former Memphian and is a comics/writer guest each year at Midsouthcon. He’s written for things like the Comics Buyer’s Guide magazine, comics (Star Wars, Iron Man, Indiana Jones), role playing games, and does a web comic called Sword & Sarcasm. If you get the chance to catch one of his panels do, or if you see him running around with his short box of comics at a con stop and pick up a few issues from him. Be sure to tell him Lin and Nicki sent you!

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That’s all for this week’s Pimp It Friday. Stay warm!

Lin

The second part of the interview Wonton and I did with Shawn Pryor and Jon Carroll for The Black Box podcast is now available. We talk more about digital comics, distribution, web comics, Jetta, Bushi Tales, my B/W art show and Comic Whore site.

Click here to go to the Black Box Podcast site.

I’ve got some news about mine and Nicki’s recent adoptions, last Friday’s art walk and George Hunt art show, Adam Shaw’s upcoming art show this Friday and more on my LinWorkman.com site. Check it out if you get a chance. Pics from last night’s Hernando Christmas parade will be up there later this week.

Type at ya later,

Lin

Last night at the monthly MSCA dinner meeting our guest speaker was cartoonist Sam Ray, MSCA member and creator of the “Business As Usual” comic strip.

Sam discussed how he got into cartooning, writing for “Hagar The Horrible”, and sending cartoons to the syndicates and magazines.

After I saw the above cartoon in the Commercial Appeal (the newspaper here) this summer I told him I really dug it and said that if he ever wanted to sell the original to let me know. He said, “Heck, if you like it that much I’ll give it to you.” and he did last night at the meeting! I asked if I could at least buy him a beer. He said, “Ok, you twisted my arm.”

Sam’s one of the original MSCA members and a great guy to talk toons with. You can read more about Sam here.

Something else I wanted to talk about is “The 7th Son”. I found out about this story and it’s author J.C. Hutchins on a recent Comic Geek Speak episode (episode 739). The novel is available in print and as an audio book podcast you can download and listen to (which is what I’ve been doing). If you like sci-fi and/or a good thriller be sure to check out this book. I’ll post a review of it once I’ve finished listening. I’m up to chapter 12…

Oh, don’t forget that the 1st Annual Broad Avenue Holiday Art Walk is tonight here in Memphis from 6-9pm. Blues artist George Hunt will be showing some of his paintings at my day job West Memorials. I’m a big fan of his work! For more info click here.

Hope you have a great weekend- see ya back here on Monday.

Lin

It’s a podcast called Word Balloon with John Siuntres . He and his guest Vanetta Rogers discussed  fandoms  on Friday, November 13, 2009.

Twilight New Moon Fangirls, With Vaneta Rogers‏.

The Film Twilight New Moon opens next weekend, so it seemed like a good time to take a look at the Fangirl Invasion. Vanetta Rogers joins me as a Twilight Fan and Comics Fan , to discuss the similarities and differences of enjoying the hobby from the opposite sex’s perspective.

Here’s a link to her Newsarama articles on the subject.

We also talk about Vanetta’s transition from new comics fan to comics reporter.

Thought this went well with the discussion I had with Nicki last week about fangirls and women in comics.

Hope you enjoy it. John’s got a lot of other great Word Balloon podcast interviews, or as he calls them- “comic book conversations” here. He recently discussed with writer/artist Matt Wagner about superheroes and comic characters being timeless or time sensitive, and talked about Matt’s  Zorro and Madam Xanadu series and upcoming Green Hornet comics. Good comic talk!

I’ll have Nicki’s next Web Wednesday up this Wednesday and more about introducing new readers to comics and keeping comic current readers interested next Monday.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Lin